Ladder-slide apparatus

ABSTRACT

A folding ladder-slide apparatus for an aircraft transfer vehicle having a passenger compartment capable of being positioned to various elevations within a given range above ground level. In cases of emergency the ladder-slide apparatus is rotated from its folded position adjacent the end of the vehicle so that the same may be extended to make contact with the ground surface. Handrails linked to the ladder are actuated when the ladder is moved between its folded and operative positions.

United States Patent Walter S. Eggert, Jr. Huntingdon Valley, Pa. 882,945

Dec. 8, 1969 Jan. 12, 1971 Th Budd Company Philadelphia, Pa.

[72] Inventor [211 App]. No. (22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] LADDER-SLIDE APPARATUS 9 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 182/49, 182/98,182/106 [51] Int. Cl E06c 5/16 [50] Field ofSeareh... 280/163,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,867,904 7/1932 Bessler 182/178 3,063,513 11/1962 Marryatt 182/49 3,083,784 4/1963 Vrian 182/106 Primary Examiner-Reinaldo P. Machado Attorneys-Thomas l. Davenport, Edward M. Farrell, John D.

Sowell, Alford L. Trueax, Jr. and William R. Nolte ABSTRACT: A folding ladder-slide apparatus for an aircraft transfer vehicle having a passenger compartment capable of being positioned to various elevations within a given range above ground level. In cases of emergency the ladder-slide apparatus is rotated from its folded position adjacent the end of the vehicle so that the saine may be extended to make contact with the ground surface. Handrails linked to the ladder are actuated when the ladder is moved between its folded and operative positions.

PATENTED JAN 1 2 WI SHEET 1 0F 3 INVENTOR.

WALTER S. EGGERT,JR.

wummmm AGENT PATENTED Jun 2 I9?! sum 2 or a INVENTOR WALTER s. EGGERT, JR. BY wawm R- M AGENT 1 PATENIED m i 2 an sum 3 or 3 INVENTOR.

WALTER S. EGGERT, JR.

141M Rm AGENT 1 LADDER-SLIDE APPARATUS This invention has utility in the typeof vehicle described in copending application Ser. No. 762,443,] entitled Aircraft Passenger Transfer Vehicle, inventor, James S. Herring, Jr., filed Sept. 25, 1968 and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application. The vehicle described includes a passenger compartment or pod which can be raised or lowered on its chassis to bring it at a desired elevation even with the threshold level of most any size plane up to' the jumbo jets. In addition it can be adjusted to receive passengers at the second floor, or boarding level of a terminal, or to discharge them at the first floor level commonly used for debarking passengers. In operation the vehicle taxies between the terminal and the plane with its passenger compartment in its lowered position. At the plane the compartment or pod is elevated to be even with the plane door and passengers are enabled to enter or leave the pod by means of a gangway forming part of the pod. In the event of emergencies such as the gangway being inoperative, or due to the vehicle being unable to establish a usual passenger transfer connection, or other unusual conditions, alternate provisions must be made for the rapid transfer of passengers to or from the ground surface.

Accordingly it is one of the principal objects of this present invention to provide for a vehicle having an elevatable pod, a ladder-slide apparatus which is normally folded into a minimum envelope at the end of the vehicle and which can be rotated to an operative position to enable passengers to reach the ground irrespective of the height of the passenger pod above its chassis. I

It is another object of this inventionto provide a ladderslide apparatus having handrails for adults and children, with interfolding of the handrails one within another.

A further object of this invention isto provide an improved ladder-slide apparatus for a transfer vehicle which is normally stowed in a folded position and which can be rotated ,andextended to an operative position for different elevationsof the passenger pod of the vehicle.

In accordance with the invention, the ladder-slide apparatus for an aircraft transfer vehicle having anelevatable passenger compartment comprises ladder means mounted for movement between a folded position to an operative extended position. Means are provided for moving the ladder means between its folded and operative positions. Slide means are mounted telescopically relative to the ladder means such that at a given elevation of the pod above ground level apassengeris enabled to walk down the ladder means and thereafter slide down theremaining distance to the ground on the slide means; said slide means serving to bridge the distance between the bottom end of the ladder and the ground surface.

For a better understanding of the invention, together with other and further objects thereof reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a side elevational viewof an aircraft passenger transfer vehicle shown with its passenger compartment down on the chassis and with the ladder-slide apparatus in its extended or unfolded position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of thevehicle similar to that shown in FIG. I but with the passenger compartment raised above the chassis and side slide members of the ladder-slide apparatus telescopically extendedrelative tothe ladder portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view illustrating the mounting support for the ladder-slide apparatus and the handrails attached to the ladder;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view illustrating the handrails for the ladder in their folded positions;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 3 and illustrating the manner by which the top handrail is secured to the cam slot afiixed to the end of the passenger compartment of the vehicle;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 3 and illustrating the manner by which the lower or child's handrail is secured to the end of the pod;-

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG. 4 and illustrating the cross-sectional shape of the upper handrail;

' FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of FIG. 4 and illustrating the manner by which a portion of the lower handrail is folded within the sidewalls of the upper handrail;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view partially in section illustrating the pulley-cable drive system for retracting the ladder-slide apparatus to its folded position;

FIG. 10 is a view taken along the lines 10-10 0 of FIG. 3 illustrating the mounting of the upright posts;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the lines Il-Il of FIG. 3 illustrating the construction of the ladder and trough members;

FIG. 12 is a view along the lines 12-12 of FIG. 3 along the top side of one of the parallel side rails of the ladder illustrating the latch apparatus for receiving theslide troughs against movement.

With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown an aircraft passenger transfer vehicle 10 having a chassis 11 with wheels 12 enabling the vehicle to travel along the ground surface. The chassis includes a pair of vertical lifting guideposts l3, 14 mounted at opposite ends of the chassis and upon which are mounted an elongated passenger compartment or pod l5. Screw means 16, ,17 journaled for rotation in parallel relationship to the guideposts l3 and 14 and connected to a suitable source of power (not shown) are provided to raise or lower the pod l5. Normally the passengers enter and leave the front end of the pod as at 19 which constitutes a gangway enabling the transfer of passengers to either enter or leave a waiting aircraft or to a terminal building. In the event of an emergency such that the passengers are unable to deplane via the gangway 19 the ladder-slide apparatus 21 of the present invention is provided at the rear of the passenger pod. The ladder-slide apparatus of the present invention is normally folded into a vertical envelope as illustrated in FIG. 3 in phantom lines but may be rotated to its operative or extended position as illustrated in FIGS. 1. 2 and 3.

With reference now to FIG. 2 the ladder-slide apparatus includes a ladder member 23 pivoted at its upper end as at 24 to a suitable frame structure 25 formingpart of the floor structure 26 of the passengerpod. The ladder member 23 includes roller elements 29 affixed to opposite sides of its parallel side rails 30 to enable telescoping movement of a first trough member 31 along its length. The first trough member 31 includes a plurality of roller elements 33 also mounted along its opposite sides to enable telescopic movement of a second trough member '35 along its length. The trough members-31 and-35 are shown in their extended position in FIG. 2 but may be retracted in the manner as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3.

With further reference to-FIGS. l and 2, it should be noted that the passenger pod 15 can be elevated to any position within the range between the lower position of the pod as shown in FIG. 1 and its uppermost position as illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus any intermediate position of the pod .betweenthe two positions shown requiresan appropriate telescopic .positioning of the trough members 31, 35;

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 11 it is seen that the .pair of side rails 30 spaced apart laterally one from anothersupport a plurality of treads 41 therebetween. The side rails 30 areih-the form of channel members in cross section having upper and lower flanges 42 and 43. Roller supporting platesfli extend between the flanges 42 and 43. The plates 45 carry the aforementioned rollers 29 which enable sliding movement of trough 31 relative to the latter. The trough member 31 includes a pair of upstanding sidewalls 47 and .a bottom interconnecting pan.48 having a troughlike depression 49 centrally aligned therewith. A plurality of ribs 50 extend along the outside bottom surface of the trough and connect the upstanding sidewalls 47 to provide rigidity between the trough and the upstanding sidewalls. A channel track 51 having inturned flanges is provided on each of the upstanding sidewalls 47 toengage the rollers 29 extending from the parallel side rails of t the ladder. The bottom or second trough member 35 likewise includes upstanding sidewalls 53 and a bottom pan 54 of greater width than pan 48 of trough member 31. The top margins of the upstanding sidewalls 53 each carry a channel track 55 which receives the aforementioned rollers 33 which are mounted for rotation on the first trough member 31. In a similar manner as indicated with respect to trough member 31, the second trough member likewise also includes U- shaped stiffener eleme its 57 which extend transversely across the bottom pan 54 and engage the upstanding sidewalls 53 to terminate at the lower flanges of the side roller rails blank.

With reference now to FIGS. 2 and 3 the bottom or second trough member 35 includes a resilient ground bumper member 59 affixed to the lowermost bottom transverse surface 60 and cotenninus with pan 54. As the ladder-slide ap paratus is enabled to rotate and swing downwardly from its upright folded position the aforementioned slides 31, 35 may be released for telescopic movement relative to each other and to the stair ladder 23 in a manner to be later described. In order to minimize the impact of the outermost trough member 35 with the ground surface the resilient member 59 is provided to absorb the shock. The upper surface of the transverse web 60 also has secured thereto an enlarged resilient member 61 which extends transversely between sidewalls 53 of the trough. The enlarged resilient cushion 61 is provided to break the sliding movement of the passengers as they slide down the trough member 35. The upper end of the first trough member 31 includes a slot 65 at the junction of its sidewall 47 and bottom wall 48. In a similar manner the second slide member 35 includes a slot 67 at the junction of its sides 53 and bottom wall 54. The slots are aligned and overlap each other to provide clearance for the hydraulic unit 68 which is connected at one end to an arm 69 affixed to the bottom flanges 43 of the side rails 39 of the ladder 23. The other end of the hydraulic unit 68 is connected to shaft 70 which in turn is journaled for rotation by means of blocks 71 to the under structure of the passenger pod.

In order to provide support for the passengers both adults and children, using the ladder means 23, handrail means 73 are provided along the parallel side rails 39 of the ladder structure. A top handrail consisting of a first section 74 and a second section 75, hinged together as at 76, is provided for adult passengers to grip. A lower handrail consisting of sections 77, 78 and an intermediate section 79 is provided for children. Sections 77 and 79 are connected by means of hinge 80 while sections 78, 79 are connected by hinge 81. Top rail section 75 and lower rail 78 are pivotally connected to upright posts 82 by pivots 83 and 84 respectively (See FIG. The lower end of the post is in turn pivotally connected to the side rail 39 of the ladder structure as at pivot connection 85. Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4 the curved upper end portions of top rail segment 74 and lower handrail 77 are pin connected to cam fitting 87 and 88 respectively. The cam fittings 87 and 88 are fixed to the back surface 89 of the passenger pod 15. Cam fitting 87 includes a vertical cam slot 90 while cam fitting 88 includes a cam slot 91 of greater length than slot 90.

With reference now to FIG. 5 it is seen that the top cam fitting 87 is channel-shaped in cross section and includes a pair of spaced flanges 93 each of which includes a like-positioned slot 90. The top rail 74 is likewise channel-shaped in cross section and includes a pair of downwardly extending flanges 96 which are received between the flanges 93 of the cam support 87 and are suitably apertured to accept a trans verse pin 94. The pin 94 rides up and down in the slot 90 of each of the flanges and thereby earns the. top rail between its folded inoperative position and its extended operative position.

With reference to FIG. 6, the lower handrail at its upper end is likewise received in the lower cam fitting 88. The fitting is channel-shaped as is the cam member 87, but is however of a shorter width. The lower handrail 77 is received within the outstanding flanges 96 of the fitting 88 and is mounted for vertical movement in the cam slots 91 by means of transverse pin 97.

As seen in FIG. 3, when the ladder member 23 is in its upright folded position, the cam pins and 91 are positioned at the tops of the slots 90 and 91 respectively. When, however, the ladder structure is rotated in a clockwise direction to the full line position of the ladder as seen in FIG. 3, the handrails with their respective pins 94 and 97 are caused to travel from the upper positions of their slots to the lowermost portions of the slots. Due to the hinged post member 82 being connected to the parallel side rails 30 of the ladder, the handrails are thereby caused to be elevated relative to the side rails of the ladder.

With reference to FIG. 4 it is seen that due to the double hinge construction on opposite sides of the intermediate lower rail section 89, namely pivots 80, 81, the upper handrail sections 74 and 75 are enabled to be sandwiched between the lower handrail sections 77 and 78. Moreover as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8 the top rail section 74 with its more widely spaced flanges 96 is enabled to receive therebetween the lower handrail section 77 with its more closely spaced flanges.

In order to aid in the movement of the ladder-slide apparatus from its folded position shown in FIG. 4 to its extended position shown in FIG. 3, spring means 100 are provided to initially provide a clockwise rotation to the ladder while the same is in its upright position and thereafter when the ladder has been rotated through a given degree of rotation to restrain and control further downward clockwise rotation of the ladder apparatus. The spring means 100 provides a counter balance for the stair apparatus. The spring means 100 provides a counter balance for the stair apparatus. The spring means 100 are illustrated in the form of a coil spring having its upper end suitably secured to a fitting 101 at the rear surface of the pod 15 and at its lower end to an arm 103 affixed to the top flange 42 of the side rail 30 of the ladder. The aforementioned hydraulic unit 68 limits by virtue of the size of its ports, the rate at which the clockwise motion of the ladder apparatus is permitted to partake.

In order to raise the ladder apparatus from its extended position as shown in FIG. 3 to its folded position as shown in FIG. 4, cable means 105 are connected to the ladder apparatus and the pod 15. The cable means constitute a pair of cable lengths 107 having their lower ends affixed to the bottommost end portion of the parallel side rails 30 of the ladder as at 109. The cable extends upwardly and diagonally towards the top portion of the pod to encircle idler pulleys 109 mounted by suitable brackets 110 to the outer rear face 89 of the pod. The cables thereafter extend downwardly to encircle drive pulleys 113 and are affixed thereto.

As best seen in FIG. 9, the drive pulleys 113 are locked to opposite ends of the aforementioned shaft 70 and rotate therewith. The shaft includes a driven sprocket 115 affixed to it and driven by sprocket chain 117. The chain is provided with power from a suitable motor M having a built-in brake unit. Upon deenergizing the motor the brake automatically locks the position of the shaft 119 of the motor. The motor is suitably mounted to horizontally disposed plate member 118 forming part of the underframe structure of the pod 15. The drive shaft 119 of the motor has a sleeve 120 keyed to it and which constitutes a part of clutch C. A driven shaft 121 aligned with shaft 119 is joumaled for rotation at one of its ends as at 121 and its opposite end is supported for rotation within sleeve 121 which projects beyond shaft 119. The shaft 121 carries a stop 122 which limits axial movement of one end of spring 123. The other end of the spring 123 normally urges toothed dog 124 into engagement with the teeth 125 fonned in the end of sleeve 120. The dog may be moved axially but is fixed against rotation relative to shaft 121.

In the event of power failure of motor M manual means are provided to enable pivotal movement of the ladder-slide apparatus from its up or folded position to its extended operative position. For this purpose lever means 127 is mounted pivotally at one end to bracket means 129 and is connected intermediate its length to dog 124. The lever may be moved about its fulcrum as at 130 to disengage dog 124 from teeth 125 of sleeve 120. To accomplish this movement, the other end of lever means 127 is connected by link 133 to arm 132 of bellcrank 131. The bellcrank is mounted for rotation as at 135 to frame member 137. The other arm 1370f the bellcrank is connected by a pull-cord 139 which extends upwardly through the floor 140 of the passenger pod. Upward pulling force applied to the pull-cord b y the operator is effective through bellcrank 131 to rotate lever 127 from its full-line position to its dotted-line position, thereby freeing shaft 121 for rotation. With the ladder 23 so released, the spring means 100 is effective to rotate the same in a clockwise direction about pivot 24 from its up position shown in FIG. 4 to a'usable down position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In order to prevent the first and second trough means from moving linearly along the ladder means 23 during such rotational movement first and second latch means 141, 143 are mountedto firsttrough member 31 and second trough member 35 respectively. Latch means 141 includes a lever 144 pivoted as at 145 to bracket 146 affixed to one surface of sidewall 47 of the first trough member 31. A spring 147 urges the opposite end 148 into engagement with notch 149 in flange 42 of side rail 30 of ladder. The second lever means 143 is pivoted as at 151 intermediate its length to bracket 152 affixed to the outer surface of sidewall 47. One end 153 of the lever 143 is urged into engagement with notch 155 cut into the channel member 33 of tr0ugh'35. A spring 156 adjacent end 157 of the lever urges end 153 into engagement with notch 158. In order to release the trough members 31, 35 for movement relative to ladder means 23 the first lever means 141 may be manually pivoted to compress spring 147 so that it assumes its dotted line position. The two trough members 31, 35 are then free tomove in unison downwardly under the influence of gravity as indicated by the arrow A. As the two troughs travel downwardly the end 157 of lever 143 strikes cam abutment 159 affixed to the outer side surface of rail 30. The abutment 159 is near the bottom of the ladder. End 153 of lever 143 is moved out of engagement with notch 158 and thereafter trough member 35 is enabled to continue its travel relative to trough member 31.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. In a variable length folding ladder-slide apparatus for a vehicle having a passenger compartment positionable at variable distances above the ground, said vehicle including a door opening therein, ladder means movable between a folded inoperative position wherein said ladder is spaced parallel to said end wall of said vehicle to an operative position wherein said ladder extends outwardly and downwardly from said end wall, pivot means mounting one end of said ladder means to said vehicle adjacent said opening, means for moving said ladder means between its operative position and said folded inoperative position, slide means mounted adjacent the underside of said ladder means, means mounting said slide means to said ladder means enabling telescope movement therebetween.

2. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set, forth in claim 1 wherein said slide means include first and second trough members and wherein said ladder means and said slide means include roller and channel means to enable telescopic sliding motion therebetween.

3. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a resilient cushion member is secured adjacent the lower marginal edge and affixed to the top surface of said second trough member.

4. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said ladder means between said operative and said inoperative positions includes pulley means secured to said vehicle and cable means secured to said ladder means and said pulley means, and means for dnvmg said pulley means in one direction.

5. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and including spring means connected at one end to said vehicle and at its other end to said ladder means and effective in one position of rotation of said ladder means to urge said ladderslide apparatus into an operative position.

6. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and including hydraulic means mounted at one end to said vehicle and at said other end to said ladder means to limit the rate with which the ladder-slide means is moved into its operative position.

7. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and including outer handrail means pivotally connected at one end to said vehicle, upright post means pivotally connected to said outer handrail means and to said ladder means, said handrail means including hinge means along its length, whereby movement of said ladder means to its folded inoperative position causes said handrail means to be folded at said hinge means.

8. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 7 and including additional handrail means disposedintermediate said ladder means and said outer handrail means, pivot means connecting said intermediate handrail means to said vehicle, first and second pivot means disposed intermediate the length of said intermediate handrail means, whereby movement of said ladder means in a direction to fold the same to its inoperative position causes said intermediate rail means to break about said first and second hinge means to sandwich said first handrail means therebetween.

9. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said pivot means for said intermediate handrail and said pivot means for said outer handrail means include cam portions whereby upper actuation of said pulley drive means in one direction causes said outer handrail means and said intermediate handrail means to actuate said ladder means into said operative position. 

1. In a variable length folding ladder-slide apparatus for a vehicle having a passenger compartment positionable at variable distances above the ground, said vehicle including a door opening therein, ladder means movable between a folded inoperative position wherein said ladder is spaced parallel to said end wall of said vehicle to an operative position wherein said ladder extends outwardly and downwardly from said end wall, pivot means mounting one end of said ladder means to said vehicle adjacent said opening, means for moving said ladder means between its operative position and said folded inoperative position, slide means mounted adjacent the underside of said ladder means, means mounting said slide means to said ladder means enabling telescope movement therebetween.
 2. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slide means include first and second trough members and wherein said ladder means and said slide means include roller and channel means to enable telescopic sliding motion therebetween.
 3. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein a resilient cushion member is secured adjacent the lower marginal edge and affixed to the top surface of said second trough member.
 4. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for moving said ladder means between said operative and said inoperative positions includes pulley means secured to said vehicle and cable means secured to said ladder means and said pulley means, and means for driving said pulley means in one direction.
 5. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 1, and including spring means connected at one end to said vehicle and at its other end to said ladder means and effective in one position of rotation of said ladder means to urge said ladder-slide apparatus into an operative position.
 6. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and including hydraulic means mounted at one end to said vehicle and at said other end to said ladder means to limit the rate with which the ladder-slide means is moved into its operative position.
 7. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and including outer handrail means pivotally connected at one end to said vehicle, upright post means pivotally connected to said outer handrail means and to said ladder means, said handrail means including hinge means along its length, whereby movement of said ladder means to its folded inoperative position causes said handrail means to be folded at said hinge means.
 8. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 7 and including additional handrail means disposed intermediate said ladder means and said outer handrail means, pivot means connecting said intermediate handrail means to said vehicle, first and second pivot means disposed intermediate the length of said intermediate handrail means, whereby movement of said ladder means in a direction to fold the same to its inoperative position causes said intermediate rail means to break about said first and second hinge means to sandwich said first handrail means therebetween.
 9. In the ladder-slide apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said pivot means for said intermediate handrail and said pivot means for said outer handrail means include cam portions whereby upper actuation of said pulley drive means in one direction causes said outer handrail means and said intermediate handrail means to actuate said ladder means into said operative position. 